After three years in prison in Riyadh: Saudi princess released

After three years in prison in Riyadh
Saudi princess released

She studied in the West, is a suffragette and close confidante of an adversary of Crown Prince Salman: The Saudi Princess Basma spent three years in a prison in Riyadh without a trial. Now she is released with her daughter.

The authorities in Saudi Arabia have released a Saudi princess and her daughter who had been detained in Riyadh for three years, according to a human rights organization. Basma bint Saud and her daughter Suhud have been released, the organization ALQST for Human Rights said on Twitter. The 57-year-old was arrested and detained without charge in March 2019.

The princess is an advocate of women’s rights and a constitutional monarchy. In April 2020, she asked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to release her for health reasons. The 57-year-old was denied medical care, the organization said. The AFP news agency was initially unable to reach the Saudi authorities for comment.

The princess was reportedly being held in Al-Ha’ir prison, where numerous other political prisoners are also being held. According to a source close to the family, she was arrested while trying to go to Switzerland for medical treatment. The source did not disclose what treatment it was.

Businesswoman and moderate activist

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been trying to open up the arch-conservative kingdom to society since 2017. The decade-long driving ban for women was abolished and concerts with women and men in the audience were allowed. However, the reforms were accompanied by tough crackdown on government critics, including women’s rights activists.

The now released Basma is his cousin. The businesswoman and moderate activist is said to have been arrested because of her close ties to Crown Prince Salman’s competitor, the former Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, the “taz” quoted from a document from its network of helpers. The supporters of the critical princess turned to the British and US State Department with a letter of protest last March. Basma is therefore well connected internationally, grew up in Lebanon and studied in Great Britain, Switzerland and Syria.

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